Top 5 Nap Spots at Hollywood Studios

Continuing our series on the Top 5 Nap Spots for little ones we head to Hollywood…

If you are at Hollywood Studios for the day and your Fast Pass for Toy Story Mania isn’t until 4pm, where do you take your little ones for a quick snooze?  With its lack of shade and noisy performances, it’s not the most conducive for sleep.  But even Hollywood Studios has some hiding places for peace and quiet.

1. Streets of America-Find a back alley (which are more shaded) and park the stroller, or simply wander the streets until your little one is down.  Avoid the Mater and McQueen, they make noise!
2. Echo Lake-While featuring some of the noisiest attractions, Echo Lake is abound with quiet shaded areas and quiet benches.  It’s also centrally located for the rest of the family.
3. Walt Disney:  One Man’s Dream-An indoor self-guided tour of Walt’s artifacts and memorabilia.  Indoor, Low Lighting, Air-Conditioned.  What else does your little one need?  There is also a movie, which may or may not do the trick.
4. Studio Catering Company-Covered patio with dining tables and chairs.  Honestly, it’s hardly ever open and you are right near bathrooms and Honey I Shrunk the Kids.
5. Take a Boat Ride-The same Friendship Boats that leave Epcot, make a stop at Hollywood Studios.  Therefore you can ride the boat with your child in their stroller as stops are made at Epcot, Boardwalk Resort, The Swan and Dolphin, Beach and Yacht Club.  There is also a walking path which if the weather isn’t miserable  makes a great option.

These are just some of my suggestions for Nap Spots at Hollywood Studios.  Any places you’ve found in Hollywood Studios for a snooze?  Please share with our readers in the Comments section of this article.

Maria is a travel planner with Snapshot Getaways.  You can follow her on her Facebook Page or email maria@snapshotgetaways.com to plan your next trip!

Top 5 Nap Spots in Epcot

In continuing my Favorite Nap Spot series, next stop is Epcot.  Due to its size, Epcot has many places to park the stroller and cajole the little ones to sleep.

1. World Showcase-Yup, the whole thing!  Place your little one in the stroller and start walking.  Maybe even detour with a soothing boat ride across the lake to Italy.  Yes, you will be surrounded by people, but keeping the stroller moving always works for us.  Avoid the musical performances at the American Pavilion.
2. Take a Boat Ride-Exit Epcot near the International Gateway (between UK and France pavilions)and continue along the path to the resort boats.  You can ride the boats to the Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin, Beach and Yacht Club resorts.  Stay on the boat or get off for a quiet spot away from it all.  You do not need to take you child out of the strollers so that is a bonus!
3. Go to the United Kingdom-Behind the shops you will find Gardens and a Hedge Maze. Grab a snack and head over to find a quiet spot. It’s centrally located to food, restrooms and other activities for family members.
4. American Adventure-Dark and Air-Conditioned.  Enough Said!
5. Visit Morocco-One of Epcot’s overlooked treasures.  Near the art exhibit there are some cool spots to sit and have little one take a rest as well.  Because it’s so overlooked, it can be very quiet and restful!

Epcot has so many beautiful nooks to find some rest for your little ones.  And your feet!  Like all Disney parks, there is a Baby Care Center for a rocking chair and some air conditioning.  However, some days a trip back to the resort is in order.  You know your kids best, so gauge their moods so everyone has a great day!

Maria is a Travel Planner with Snapshot Getaways and loves traveling with her children.  Although, usually she wants the nap!  Follow her Facebook Page or email maria@snapshotgetaways.com to plan your next trip!

Top 5 Nap Spots in Animal Kingdom

Back to my series on napping in Disney World.  Sometimes those little legs just need a rest, so here are my Top 5 Nap Spots in Animal Kingdom.  Animal Kingdom is a great park to find napping nooks, so keep an eye out.  Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order:

1. The Tree of Life-In and around the Tree of Life are tons of benches, many covered by tree canopy. Find a shady spot and cross those fingers.  Usually you will have no problem finding an empty bench, unfortunately you aren’t near any amenities like bathrooms or food.
2. Rafiki’s Planet Watch-Hopefully taking the Wildlife Express Train will put your little one in the mood to nap.  From then on, find a spot.  Inside the Conservation Station can be a little noisy, but lighting is dim and there is air conditioning.  Older children can explore with another adult in the Affection Station (aka Petting Area).  While bathroom facilities are great, no food options are available except for a snack cart so plan ahead.
3. Pangani Forest Exploration Trail-You will need to get through the more congested areas, but I find the Gorilla Trail to be a great nap spot.  People are encouraged to speak quietly so as not to scare the Gorillas, so it can be a peaceful place to relax.  Once in there you are cut off from amenities, but there are plenty of exciting sights.
4. Walkway from Africa to Asia-You should be able to find a quiet corner along this walk.  Look along the river for great benches and a beautiful view.  Check the Flights of Wonder schedule and go in-between shows.  It can be a tad noisy if the crowds are large, but you are centrally located and can walk off the main drag down the smaller paths.  
5. The Boneyard in DinoLand U.S.A.-This one is hit or miss depending on your child’s age.  The Dino Dig area is covered and shaded, if you can get your baby to ignore everything else going on around them.  Any older kids can explore the rest of the Boneyard.  Bathrooms and food opportunities are available right outside, although you are not allowed to bring food into the Boneyard.

Disney Devotee Tips-Animal Kingdom is so expansive that walking around with your little one in the stroller may be all it takes to put them to sleep.  Then you can grab yourself a treat and take a rest on the nearest bench. 

Good Luck getting your Little One to sleep.  Animal Kingdom can be done less than a day, so perhaps this is a day to head back to the room for a good, long nap.  If you have older children that still want to explore and ride Expedition Everest over and over, have one parent stay behind.  Happy Napping!

Maria is a Travel Planner with Snapshot Getaways.  You can follow her facebook page or contact her at maria@snapshotgetaways.com to plan your next trip!

Top 5 Nap Spots in Magic Kingdom

Going back to the resort is the best way to get a nap in for a soon to be cranky little one. Especially if they need a 2 hour nap to recharge.  Sometimes that is not possible, so here are my Top 5 nap spots in Magic Kingdom.  I’ve found these to be great places to put back the stroller and cross our fingers.

1. Tomorrowland-The benches outside Tomorrowland Speedway.  I know it sounds crazy, but the noise must act like white noise because I’ve had success here.  It’s shaded and the rest of the family can explore the many rides in the area.  A trip on the Transit Authority People Mover or Carousel of Progress, might get your little one relaxed prior to placing them down for their nap.   There  is plenty of space, and amenities like bathrooms and snacks are nearby.
2. Tom Sawyer Island-This is also a hidden gem to explore.  The boat ride should soothe your little one and by the time you find a quiet bench they will be in Disney Dreamland.  If you have older children you can send them along to explore the island with another adult.  There are caves, a fort and play areas to keep them busy for a while.  The only negative is that while bathrooms are available, snacks are not.   So plan ahead.
3. Walt Disney World Railroad-This is an idea if your child requires movement to fall  asleep.  While they can not be in the stroller, if you have sling or carrier they will soon be out.  You can ride the railroad as long as you like and although there is noise, it is soothing to the little ones.
4. Baby Care Center-Located near Main Street and Crystal Palace, the Baby Care center gives babies and their parents a place to wind down.  It can be busy and you need to leave your stroller outside.  But for a little decompression it’s perfect.   The air conditioning is a bonus!
5. Liberty Square-Check the parade and meet and greet schedules before you commit to this area.  There are a ton of nooks to park with your stroller.  Again, shade is helpful here.  There are quiet spots near the Christmas Shoppe and entrance to Adventureland as you pass The Crystal Palace.

Disney Devoted Tip:  "As a last "resort" get on the monorail.   You can go to Epcot and back, or to one of the resorts.   The Polynesian has many quiet spots or their beach has some comfortable beach chairs.   While you are welcome, please remember to be respectful of the resort guests.

Maria is a Travel Planner with Snapshot Getaways.  Follow her Facebook Page or email maria@snapshotgetaways for travel planning.

When Should You Travel to Disney for the First Time?

I get asked that question on the playground all the time. Unfortunately in this article, there isn't a definitive answer. Some parents are ready to expose their babies to the World of Disney as soon as possible. Another comment I hear from parents is that "I'm going to wait until my children are older so they can appreciate Disney more". For what it's worth, here are my thoughts on the matter.

  "My child is too young to appreciate Disney" 

Often going to Disney isn't about the child (insert GASP), but about the parents.  That is okay!  While your child might not remember going on It's a Small World or know the difference between a sippy cup and Mickey Mouse...you will get to enjoy all those things.   Gummy little smiles at the parade with its colorful floats and songs.  Wobbly toddler legs, running over to greet Mickey Mouse for the first time.  Perhaps, running away in the opposite direction while screaming from Mickey Mouse.  Getting to purchase those exclusive Disney Park items made especially for babies. Disney is about making things easier for families.  Each park has a Baby Care Center with quiet spots for nursing, short naps and to stock up on baby necessities.

A surprising amount of rides are designed for the whole family in mind.  For example, Buzz Lightyear's Spin at Magic Kingdom is appropriate for all ages.  Put Junior next to you or on your lap and he may even get a higher score than you do!    Should you have an older child who meets a height requirement and a younger child that does not,  Disney has Ride Swap.  A family can wait in line with their child and one parent can ride with the older child.  After getting off the ride, the other parent who stayed behind can now ride with minimal to no wait.  Of course the parks are stroller friendly and rentals are available.

On the flip side, you do need to consider some things when traveling with younger children.  Bottles or nursing, baby food, diaper changing, pushing a stroller, planning a nap and the inevitable melt-down.  This blog will feature a lot of articles that help to deal with these challenges.  If you are ready to go to Disney, then your child is ready to go to Disney!

Devoted Travel Tip:  Children under 3 are FREE at the parks.  While you will have to pay airfare, there isn't an additional cost for them at Disney.  So fitting in that trip a week before their 3rd birthday is great timing.

"I can't afford to go to Disney every year, so when should we go?

 Not everyone has the luxury of going on vacation every year, or every 5 years.  Finances, school schedules and other obligations can get in the way of the Disney magic.  If that is the case, then plan your trip around the 4-9 age range.  While I hate to put an age limit, that is the time where your child will be able to enjoy almost all the rides and know all the Disney characters and films.  When you will be doing most things together as a family, instead of going your separate ways.  Also, at age 10 your "child" is considered an adult by Disney standards and priced accordingly.

 That being said, there is no reason why you can't go with teenagers.  Thrill rides galore to get the "bored" 13 year old out of their shell.  Riding Test Track until their braces come lose is every teens dream.   Disney's two waterparks or Downtown Disney's DisneyQuest are perfect spots to take the older children.  I don't care who you are, you still want to get your picture in front of Cinderella's Castle and seeing Mickey will stop you in your tracks.  Pixie Dust does not care how old you are! Disney can also be surprisingly affordable.

As a Travel Agent I know a lot of tricks to get the most for your money.  Traveling off-peak season saves significantly, and often your hotel cost is no different than the cost of the local Ramada Inn.  Disney also takes care of your transportation to and from the airport if you are a resort guest.  Once at the resort, no rental car required.  Depending on the resort; a bus, monorail or boat will take you to the parks with ease.  Purchasing a Disney Dining Plan allows you to pre-pay your meals for a savings.  While at Disney dining ala carte at one of the amazing quick service restaurants is not a hardship either.  While the cost of Park Tickets can be sticker shock, the longer your stay the more value you get from your tickets.  At 4 days your tickets are discounted as part of a room package.

 Disney loves to offer discounts to fill their resort rooms during the slow times. So if you are free to travel the first week in December, the deal may be there. Disney's discounts historically include Free Dining or Room Discounts. The room discounts range from 10-35% based on the resort category. The Free Dining will give you a Quick Service, Table Service and Snack per person, per night of stay. There are also discounts offered by different agencies. These are special that are exclusive to a Travel Agency that often room discounts or a perk of some kind. While there may be restrictions on the resorts or timing, a family can get a great deal that way.

Devoted Travel Tip: If you have booked your vacation and afterwards a special is offered by Disney, you or your travel agent can apply the discount in most cases. The great thing about a Travel Agent (like me for instance) is that we are notified of any deals and specials offered by Disney and can call and make the adjustments right then.

Maria is a mom to 2 boys, blogger and travel planner for Snapshot Getaways.  Her first trip to Disney was when she was 30 years old!  Be sure to follow her Mickey Mom page on Facebook.